Issues and Strategies for Visually Impaired Learners

Tuesday 7 March 2006

Low Vision Aids (1270 until present day)

Mary Dallas, RNIB

Present Day Provision

The Report to the Eye Care Review Steering Group from the Working Group on Children’s Services found in section 6.5 "The supply of low vision aids. There are inconsistencies in the local arrangements for supplying low vision aids to visually impaired children and adults"
Recommendations 8.5 "The responsibility for commissioning, supplying and maintaining equipment, technology and low vision aids should be clarified."

Why Do We Use Them?

• To improve visual functioning;
• To allow the person with a visual impairment to be as independent as possible.

Non-optical Aids

Non-optical aids are environmental factors:- Lighting, cutting out glare, auditory considerations contrast, signage, edgings on steps and stairs. This is not a definitive list.

Optical Aids

• Optical aids are made up of lenses placed between the eye and the object to be viewed.
• Objective is to get the maximum potential vision from the particular aid described.
• To improve on that function further training in the use of the aid is essential.